What Our Post-Baby Bellies Really Look Like

Babble did a callout on their Facebook page for photos of postpartum bellies. Only a few people submitted them and when I asked my friends, promising their identity would remain secret, only one sent me a photo, while the others responded in all caps, “NO WAY.”

You guys … if we don’t show what real bellies look like then people are going to go on believing that everyone else has a nice, firm, flat tummy with no imperfections.

We all know this is a lie.

First of all, before you start thinking, “But she doesn’t have any stretch marks! Of course I would show my belly if I didn’t have any stretch marks!” I say yes, I do have stretch marks. They are on my sides rather than the front. ALSO, I may have gotten off without stretch marks on my stomach but my mark of pregnancy appears on my face in the form of a bright red rash. My face is covered with hundreds of tiny ruptured capillaries called petichiae that are from me vomiting so much through both pregnancies. You can cover your belly everyday for the rest of your life; my face isn’t so lucky.

I’ve come to accept my red badge of courage as part of my everyday appearance, especially after four fairly painful laser procedures barely put a dent in them.

I’m not saying we all have to show off our imperfections and insecurities; I’m just saying that if we did a little more often, maybe there would be less women shaming themselves in their bathroom mirrors at home, hating that they don’t look like what society tells them what they should look like.

Take a look at these real women and their postpartum bellies and know that most of the bellies walking around everyday look more like these and far less like the ones on magazine covers.

There is beauty in embracing our imperfections and beauty in accepting ourselves and these bodies of ours that can do so many amazing things, stretchmarks or not. To those of you who submitted photos? Thanks. You’re spectacular.

Me 1 of 47

This is me 9 weeks after my second baby. I took this as a "before" photo when I started a diastasis rehab regimen.

A’driane 2 of 47

A'driane and I have the same hip stretch marks! This is her belly 22 months postpartum after 2 kids.

Bridget – 4 Kids 3 of 47

Her youngest just turned one.

Andrea 4 of 47

This is Andrea, 2 years postpartum.

Tara 5 of 47

Way to go Tara!

Kristen 6 of 47

15 months postpartum and 14 months after gallbladder surgery.

Lindsay 7 of 47

7 months postpartum after her first.

Connie – 6 months postpartum 8 of 47

Say hi to Connie everyone.

Danielle 9 of 47

From Danielle: "This tummy has grown me 4 babies. 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011. Miscarried twice. Is the origin of my real laughs. And serves as a perfect spot for 'snuggle up time' with my kids. I may make it smaller but NEVER less impressive."

Laura 10 of 47

This is Laura's stomach after 5 kids. She has a diastasis too! (More on that later.)

Sherry 11 of 47

This is Sherry's belly after two perfect babies.

Danielle 12 of 47

This is fellow blogger Danielle 11 days after her C-section. She said when she posted it the first time people said she was crazy and brave (or crazy brave). I agree and thank her.

Jo 13 of 47

This is Jo's belly after 4 kids. Her youngest was born in January.

Juanita 14 of 47

This is Juanita's belly after 4 kids — 3 vaginal deliveries and one C-section.

Kayleigh 15 of 47

This is Kayleigh 3 months postpartum after her fourth baby.

Kristen 16 of 47

This is Kristen 8 weeks after her C-section.

Martika 17 of 47

Martika submitted this photo of her belly 15 months after the birth of her son.

My petichiae 18 of 47

This is my rash, 6 months postpartum, just in case you were wondering how bad a face rash could be.

This is Natisha's belly after 3 children, born in 2006, 2007, and 2009. She goes to the gym all the time but says she'll never be able to get full stomach definition because with her youngest child (10 lbs.), much of her stomach muscle tore permanently … but she couldn't think of a better reason for why it did!

Bridget 24 of 47

Bridget has had four kids over the past 6 years; her youngest just turned one.

Donna 25 of 47

This is Donna's stomach after having four kids!

Leanna, 23 26 of 47

This is Leanna's belly 7 weeks after her first (and only) child was born. Her son weighed 5 lbs. 9 oz. at birth.

Nicole 27 of 47

This is Nicole, 13 months postpartum, and she told me she loves her belly!

Keady 28 of 47

You go Keady!

Katherine 29 of 47

This is Katherine's belly 7 months postpartum after her second child.

Ashley 30 of 47

Ashley had her first child in 2008 and her second 16 months ago. She loves her stretch marks and proclaims: "It makes me ... well, me!"

Christy 31 of 47

This is Christy's belly, three kids later. Her youngest is 11 months old.

Kim 32 of 47

This is Kim's REAL 12 month postpartum belly. She had a C-section with her first daughter Kiana who is 13 months old now. She's currently four weeks pregnant with her second!

Raven 33 of 47

This is 6 months after her second child.

Valerie 34 of 47

Valerie's belly has housed 80 weeks and 8 days of babies (2 boys). Her youngest is 4 months old.

Melissa 35 of 47

This is Melissa, 7 weeks post C-section with her first daughter who is 13 months old now.

Alyssa 36 of 47

This is a picture of Alyssa's "beautiful muffin top" 12 years after giving birth to 2 sets of twins!

Rachel 37 of 47

This is Rachel's belly 10 months postpartum — and she's proud of it!

Sarah 38 of 47

This is Sarah's belly after 2 C-sections! Also, the scars are from gallbladder surgery she underwent at 5 months postpartum.

Jasmine 39 of 47

This is Jasmine, 10 months post baby boy!

Samantha 40 of 47

This is Samantha, 22 months after she had a baby girl!

Mary 41 of 47

This is Mary, 4 months after her daughter was born!

Crystal 42 of 47

This is Crystal, 5 months after her first child.

Hannah 43 of 47

Check out Hannah's postpartum belly only 3 months after her second baby!

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